Dispersal of fern spores by Galápagos finches
Fern sporangia may provide an important source of energy for bird species, which in turn can act as potential dispersers of viable spores. This study reports the first case of fern spore dispersal by land birds. We document the consumption of fern sporangia and evaluate the potential spore dispersal by Galápagos finches on Santa Cruz Island. Overall, 18% of the 34 sampled individuals of three finch species, the Vegetarian Finch (Platyspiza crassirostris), the Small Ground Finch (Geospiza fuliginosa) and the Medium Ground Finch (Geospiza fortis), were found to disperse viable spores of two native ferns, Asplenium auritum and Asplenium feei.
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| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | artículo biblioteca |
| Published: |
Springer
2019-03-21
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| Subjects: | Asplenium, Fern-bird mutualism, Geospiza fuliginosa, Platyspiza crassirostris, Sporangia consumption, Geospiza fortis, |
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/10261/188376 http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100003329 |
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| Summary: | Fern sporangia may provide an important source of energy for bird species, which in turn can act as potential dispersers of viable spores. This study reports the first case of fern spore dispersal by land birds. We document the consumption of fern sporangia and evaluate the potential spore dispersal by Galápagos finches on Santa Cruz Island. Overall, 18% of the 34 sampled individuals of three finch species, the Vegetarian Finch (Platyspiza crassirostris), the Small Ground Finch (Geospiza fuliginosa) and the Medium Ground Finch (Geospiza fortis), were found to disperse viable spores of two native ferns, Asplenium auritum and Asplenium feei. |
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